Odisha govt to test ghee quality at Shree Jagannath Temple amid controversy

Bhubaneswar, Sept 24: In response to the controversy surrounding the alleged use of animal fat in the laddoos at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha Government has announced plans to test the quality of ghee used at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain stated, “There have been no complaints about the quality of ghee used for preparing Kotha Bhoga (prasad for the sibling deities) and Baradi Bhoga (prasad on order). However, to eliminate any concerns about possible adulteration, we have decided to examine the ghee supplied by Omfed. We will also engage in discussions with Omfed and the Suara and Mahasuara Nijog of the temple to ensure standardization of the ghee provided.”

Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, the Chief Badagrahi of Lord Jagannath, noted that there had been instances of adulterated ghee being used for selling diyas (lamps) on temple grounds, which has since been restricted. “We will request the temple’s chief administrator to conduct a comprehensive test of the ghee used within the temple,” he added, emphasizing the need to restore devotees' trust.

In 2017, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) directed Omfed to supply pure ghee for burning diyas at the temple, aiming to mitigate potential damage to the temple's structure caused by smoke from impure ghee.